Now that the mortal war is over and peace once again reigns in the immortal world, Clary plans to spend her time training to be a Shadowhunter. She also wants to spend time with Jace out in the open, now that she can finally call him her boyfriend. But things are never that easy. Once again, something wicked brews in the shadow world.

The murders of several Shadowhunters who were once loyal to Valentine—Clary’s evil father—put everyone on edge. Tension builds between Downworlders and Shadowhunters, and it could lead to another war, which no one wants.

Clary’s best friend, Simon, is of little help in this new threat—especially after his mother kicks him out upon discovering that he’s a vampire. Homeless and dejected, he’s annoyed that everyone seems to want to use him for some Shadowhunter or Downworlders purpose.

Meanwhile, plagued by terrible dreams, Jace pulls away from Clary, afraid of what he might do if he loses control. That leaves Clary alone to face an uncertain threat that could open up a whole set of repercussions that are best left alone.

City of Fallen Angels is somewhat slower-paced than previous books in the Mortal Instruments series, as the foundation is built for the next catastrophe to befall the Shadowhunters and Downworlders. The story mostly concentrates on the turbulent romance between Clary and Jace, as well as Simon’s messed-up life since he became a vampire, which is highly entertaining.

Clary is the kind of girl who bounces back from just about anything. She’s a strong and independent girl who prefers to get out and take action rather than cry into a diary. That’s not to say that she doesn’t feel the sting of pain and betrayal; she just moves past it with forward motion, always hoping for the best.

Jace is your average tormented hero who can’t seem to get away from his dark past, which builds tons of the kind of teen drama that young adults seem to love these days. I, on the other hand, enjoy the paranormal aspects of such a novel more, so I simply endure the drama.

In a market where the paranormal can become old-school and overdone, author Cassandra Clare manages to keep it fresh with City of Fallen Angels. She weaves in Old Testament mysteries—such as the Mark of Cain—and she builds engaging characters around them. I can’t wait to see what she’ll come up with in future installments of this unique series.